UPEI reaches tentative deal with striking staff
The University of Prince Edward Island reached a tentative agreement with its striking faculty association early Wednesday, raising hopes that 4,000 students could be back in class by Thursday.
The faculty association was scheduled to meet for a ratification vote Wednesday at 2 p.m.
Faculty association president Wayne Peters said the association is recommending that its 375 members vote in favour of the deal.
Striking workers continued walking the picket line early Wednesday, taking time to belt out the rock anthem We are the Champions.
There are no details on how the university plans to finish the semester. According to the original timetable for the year, Thursday was supposed to be the last day of classes at UPEI, with exams beginning on Monday.
- FROM MARCH 21, 2006: P.E.I. university hit by faculty strike
The strike began on March 21, with faculty asking for parity with other regional universities in pay, workload and benefits.
Negotiations broke off on the first day of the strike, and never lasted more than a couple of days until a government-appointed mediator sat down with the two sides on Sunday.
Student union vice-president Shaun Coady said the important thing now is to get students back in the classrooms, and move on to exams.
"I think they're going to try to accommodate the students as best as possible, obviously ensuring that we can fit the exam schedule into the current footprint of having exams complete by April 24," he said.